Das Projekt "Morphologische Forschung fuer die Entwicklung einer Fruehdiagnose fuer Waldsterben" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität München, Forstwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Lehrstuhl für Forstbotanik durchgeführt. Objective: To establish an early diagnosis of tree death, studying the behaviour of lateral buds and lateral twigs formation. General Information: Activity of lateral buds and a normal growth of lateral twigs of spruce are known as characteristics symptoms of dying in trees. It is probably set in at an earlier stage than the more obvious effects of needle shedding. This phenomenon could be used for a early diagnosis of tree death. To investigate this possibility, three lines of research are planned. 1. To check the relationship between the degree of damage and the occurrence of this phenomenon. 2. To date the appearance of this phenomenon and correlate this with the growth behaviour of the tree. 3. To determine to what extent the occurrence of this phenomenon depends on the distance between the tree and the source of pollutants.